Guide channel pivot for window regulator

Abstract

A device for slidably and pivotably connecting a window regulator arm to a door inner panel includes, a molded plastic slide channel mounted in a slot provided in the door inner panel. The slot defined by spaced apart walls of the door inner panel and extends along the path of desired movement of the window regulator arm. The molded plastic slide channel has a base adapted to engage against the door inner panel and a pair of spaced apart channel walls projecting from the base and through the slot in the door inner panel. The channel walls snap fit against the walls of the slot to retain the slide channel on the door inner panel. The spaced apart channel walls cooperate to define a guide slot therebetween. A slide member is carried by the window regulator arm and slidably engages with the guide channel to enable pivoting and sliding of the regulator arm along the door inner panel. The presence of the slide member between channel walls prevent the disengagement of the channel walls from the slot of the door panel. The slide member is preferably a spherical stud which is fixedly attached to the window regulator arm. The guide slot defined by the spaced apart channels walls preferably define an opened sided cylindrical slot of circular cross section which receives the spherical stud so that the stud may swivel within the channel.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
       1. A device for slidably and pivotally connecting a window regulator arm to a door inner panel comprising: a slot provided in the door inner panel and defined by spaced apart walls of the door inner panel and extending along the path of desired sliding movement of the window regulator arm;   a molded plastic slide channel having a base engaging against the door inner panel and a pair of spaced apart channel walls projecting from the base and through the slot of the door inner panel in snap fitting relationship therewith to retain the slide channel on the door inner panel, said spaced apart channel walls cooperating to define a guide slot therebetween, and   a slide member carried by the window regulator arm and slidably engaging the guide slot to enable pivoting and sliding of the regulator arm along the door inner panel.   
     
     
       2. A device for slidably and pivotally connecting a window regulator arm to a door inner panel comprising: a spherical stud fixedly attached to the window regulator arm and projecting toward the door inner panel;   a slot provided in the door inner panel and defined by spaced apart walls of the door inner panel and extending along the path of desired sliding movement of the window regulator arm; and   a molded plastic slide channel having a base engaging against the door inner panel and a pair of spaced apart channel walls projecting from the base and through the slot of the door inner panel in snap fitting relationship therewith to retain the slide channel on the door inner panel, said spaced apart channel walls cooperating to define an open-sided cylindrical slot of circular cross-section receiving the spherical stud in close fitting sliding and pivoting engagement therewith to enable pivoting and sliding of the regulator arm along the door inner panel.